Half to w



No. 2:,500. Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

- m. J. USULLIVAN.

GHECKREIN HOOK.

(Applicabionflled Nov. 2, 1898.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

MICHAEL J. OSULLIVAN, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO W. R. MEDEARIS, OF SAME PLACE. 1

CHECKRElN-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,500, dated March 21, 1899. Application filed November 2, 1898. Serial No. 695,309. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that LMIOHAEL J. OSULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Oheckrein-Hook, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in checkrein-hooks.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of checkrein-hooks and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one adapted to permit a checkrein to be readily attached to it and removed from it and capable of preventing the same from becoming accidentally disconnected from it through the movements of the head of a horse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a checkrein-hook which,while effectually preventing a checkrein from becoming accidentally detached from it, will permit a checkrein to slide through it readily to permit a horse to turn its head without annoyance and without having the checkrein slack on one side and taut on the other.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a checkrein-hook constructed in acaccordance with this invention and shown applied to a gig-tree and illustrating the manner of holding a checkrein. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. I Fig. 3is an elevation showing one side of the checkrein-hook. Fig. 4is a similar view showing theopposite side of the device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding ings.

1 designates a checkrein-hook mounted on a gig-tree 2, as illustrated in Fig. l of the'accompanying drawings; but the device may be mounted on a soft-leather saddle, as will be readily understood. The checkrein-hook, which is composed of a central checkrein-receiving post 3 and a guard 4, is provided with a depending threaded shank 5, and may be constructed of any suitable material. The

parts in all the figures of the draw-.

threaded shank is secured to the gig-tree or to a'soft-leather saddle by means of a suit: able nut, as will be readily understood.

The post 3 is enlarged at the bottom to form a tapering base 6, which is substantially triangular in side elevation. tion of the post is con'caved or tapered toward the center and the upper end of the post is enlarged to form a head 7 By this construction the strain on the checkrein draws the same to the center of the post andholds it at that point normally. I

The guard 4 is provided at one side of the- 4 The central por- 1 the upwardly extending portion of which forms the terminal of the guard and projects rearward beyond the post.

The checkrein is placed on the'post at the back of the device and is swung or carried forward under theend of the guard, being pressed downward to clear the bend or dip 9,

and when the checkrein is in its normal po sition its upper edge is located a considerable distance above the bend of the guard, so that there is no liability of the checkrein becoming accidentally disconnected from the device by the movements of the head of a horse, and the rein is perfectly free to move around the post, so that it will not bind when a horse turns its head and cause one side to slacken and the other side to become taut.

The invention has the following advantages: The checkrein-hook, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, possesses great strength and durability, the strain being borne entirely by the post, and the guard simply serving to retain the checkrein thereon, and it enables a checkrein to be readily hooked on it and removed from it and at the same time effectually pre vents the rein from becoming accidentally disconnected. It permits the checkrein to move freely around the post and allows a horse to turn its head without causing it any annoyance, and there is no liability when a horse does turn its head of the checkrein becoming taut at one side and slack at the other.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed isr 1. A checkrein-hook comprising a 'post arranged to receive a checkrein, and a guard composed of an arm rising from the base of the post at one side thereof and spaced therefrom, and a body portion spaced from the checkrein-receiving post and extending forward from the upper end of the arm, around the front of the post and projecting rearward at the opposite side of the latter, substantially as described.

2. A checkrein-hook comprising a checkrein-receiving post having a tapering base, provided at its top with a head and having a central concave or oppositely-tapered portion, and a guard composed of an arm rising from the base of the post at one side thereof, and

a body portion extending forward from the arm, around the front of the post to the 0pposite side thereof and spaced therefrom, said body portion having its terminal projecting in rear of the post and provided with a depending bend, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MICHAEL J. OSULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

W.- R. MEDEARIS, A. T. CHILDRESS. 

